NBA: Thomas leads third quarter rally as Kings subdue Pelicans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Guard Isaiah Thomas scored 11 of his 22 points in the third quarter, sparking a decisive run along the way, and the Sacramento Kings snapped a three-game skid with a 96-89 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) at Sleep Train Arena.
 

FINAL: Kings defeat Pelicans 96-89. DMC 23pts 12rebs, IT 22pts 5asts, Evans 10pts 13rebs, Gay 14pts. #ForeverPurple

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 4, 2014

Thomas scored seven points during a 22-7 spurt that turned a 52-46 deficit into a 68-59 lead going into the final period. Key among the run was a three-point play that put Sacramento ahead 59-57. Thomas sank a driving floater from the right baseline while being fouled.

 

Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins added a team-high 23 points and 12 rebounds for his 36th double-double of the season. Forward Rudy Gay, who matched a career high with 41 points in the teams' previous meeting on Jan. 21, scored 14 points, and forward Reggie Evans had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

 

The Kings (21-39) won with fewer than 100 points for the first time since Feb. 3 against the Chicago Bulls.

 

Cousins also avoided drawing a technical foul. The NBA's leader with 16, Cousins will receive a one-game suspension the next time he draws a technical.

 

Kings rookie guard Ray McCallum added a career-high eight points.

 

Former Kings guard Tyreke Evans led the Pelicans with 27 points. He added 10 rebounds and eight assists but couldn't prevent New Orleans from losing its eighth in a row. The Pelicans (23-37) fell to 0-4 on a five-game trip.

 

New Orleans forward Anthony Davis missed his first nine shots and finished with 13 points. Davis made his final three shots after starting 1-for-11 from the floor. He did not make a shot until the third quarter.

 

The performance did nothing to alleviate concerns about Davis' left shoulder, which he injured last Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) against the Dallas Mavericks. The second-year pro shot a combined 5-for-20 while scoring only 21 points over his past two games.

 

Without Davis' usual 20 points per game, the Pelicans struggled to find offense. Guard Brian Roberts added 15 points and backcourt mate Eric Gordon scored 10. The two rebounded from a horrid effort against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) by shooting a combined 10-for-27 Monday (Tuesday, PHL time). Roberts and Gordon went a combined 2-for-21 against Los Angeles. - Reuters


The scores:
KINGS 98 - Cousins 23, Thomas 22, Gay 14, McLemore 10, Evans 10, Callum 8, Thompson 6, Johnson 3, Williams 0, Acy 0

PELICANS 89 - Evans 27, Roberts 15, Davis 13, Gordon 10, Morrow 8, Rivers 6, Ajinca 4, Stiemsma 2, Withey 2, Aminu 2